Racial Justice & Equality
USCCB YouTube Channel
Using a video format, the US Bishops address all manner of Human Dignity issues such as “The Sin of Racism”, “Justice for Immigrants” and many more.
Catholic Mobilizing Network
Catholic Mobilizing Network is a national organization working in close collaboration with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and living the mission of the Congregation of St. Joseph. Through education, advocacy, and prayer, Catholic Mobilizing Network (CMN) proclaims the Church’s pro-life teaching and prepares Catholics for informed involvement in the public debate to end the death penalty and promote restorative justice.
Witness To Innocence.org
Witness to Innocence (WTI) is the only national organization in the United States composed of and led by exonerated death row survivors and their family members. The mission of WTI is to abolish the death penalty by empowering exonerated death row survivors and their loved ones to become effective leaders in the abolition movement. WTI actively challenges political leaders and the public to grapple with the reality of a fatally flawed criminal justice system that sends innocent people to death row. WTI also seeks ways to support death row survivors and their loved ones as they confront the challenges of life after exoneration.
The King Center
The King Library and Archives in Atlanta is the largest repository of primary source materials on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the American Civil Rights Movement in the world. The collection consists of the papers of Dr. King and those of the organization he co-founded, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, as well as the records of 8 major civil rights organizations and of several individuals active in the Movement. The archives also include more than 200 oral history interviews with Dr. King’s teachers, friends, family and civil rights associates.
The King Institute at Stanford University
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Research & Education Institute builds upon the achievements of Stanford University’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Papers Project, the King Institute supports a broad range of activities illuminating Dr. King’s life and the movements he inspired.
Classroom Resources for Martin Luther King Jr.
Lesson Plans, Activity Ideas & Other Resources for Teaching MLK Day to help students put in perspective Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life, his impact on the Civil Rights Movement, and his significance to American culture and history.
Rebuilding the Bridge: 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Movement – The U.S. recently celebrated the 50th anniversaries of several important civil rights milestones. To commemorate these important events and the contributions of many Catholics to the civil rights movement, Cultural Diversity in the Church and African American Affairs, in collaboration with several other organizations, has launched Rebuilding the Bridge: African American Affairs’ 50th Anniversary Initiative.
Letter from Birmingham Jail Study Guide – In recognition of the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Letter from Birmingham Jail, Christian Churches Together, one of the largest ecumenical organizations in the U.S., offered a response and created a Study Guide to facilitate reflection either for groups or individuals. The webpage for this important document also has an additional introduction for Catholics to the Study Guide and an introductory letter from Bishop Madden and Bishop Flores.
Brothers and Sisters to Us – U.S. Catholic Bishops Pastoral Letter on Racism, 1979
25th Anniversary Executive Summary – We Walk by Faith and Not by Sight: The Church’s Response to Racism in the Years Following
On Racial Harmony – A Statement by the Administrative Board, National Catholic Welfare Conference (August 23, 1963) that reaffirms the U.S. Catholic bishops’ official position against racial discrimination and segregation.
Racism Backgrounder – A two-page background information sheet on systemic racism and the Church’s response.
Diversity and Racial Justice Resources. . . – The WeAreSaltandLight.org. . . website of the USCCB Department of Justice, Peace and Human Development includes a Diversity and Racial Justice page that features videos and articles on this topic.
Intercultural Competencies – This page explains the five competencies that were defined by the U.S. bishops in making “Recognition of Cultural Diversity in the Church” one of their priorities. The manual Building Intercultural Competence for Ministers can be found online or obtained in print from USCCB Publishing. Regional trainings on the competencies are being scheduled at this time. Visit the Intercultural Competency site often for updates. If interested in hosting or organizing a training, please contact Yolanda Taylor-Burwell at ytaylor-burwell@usccb.org or 202-541-3152.
Statement on Race Relations
Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz, Archdiocese of Louisville, Kentucky
President, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Statement on the Occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act
Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz, Archdiocese of Louisville, Kentucky
President, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Love Thy Neighbor as Thyself: U.S. Catholic Bishops Speak Against Racism – In 2001, several bishops brought together a series of essays on the perspective of the different cultural families and on racism in general.
The Racial Divide in the United States – Most Reverend Edward K. Braxton, Ph.D., S.T.D., Bishop of Belleville (Illinois) shares his thoughts on racism in his pastoral letter and study guide, The Racial Divide in the United States: A Reflection for the World Day of Peace 2015.
The Catholic Church and the Black Lives Matter Movement: The Racial Divide in the United States Revisited. . .
Bishop Edward K. Braxton, Diocese of Belleville, IL
February 26, 2016
Resources on Racism for Youth Ministry Leaders. . . – The National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry (NFCYM) has compiled a list of resources on race for those working with youth. The page includes resources for families, small groups, and others. Link to: http://www.nfcym.org/racism.htm
Civil Dialogue | en Español – This handout includes a reflection by Cardinal Donald Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington, on how Catholics can speak truth in love and engage in civil dialogue.
Click here to read Ascension Parish’s Share the Journey Prayer Service Program.
Click here to read the Diocesan Capacity Building Annual Plan Form Louisville from March 2018.
